Marc Lièvremont
Encyclopedia
Marc Lièvremont is a former rugby union
footballer and was the head coach of the French national rugby union team
. He played as a back-row forward for France
, gaining 25 caps
from 1995 to 1999, and was selected in France's 1999 Rugby World Cup
squad. He also played with the French Rugby Sevens
team and with the French Barbarians
.
Born in Senegal to a militarian father from Franche-Comté
and a mother from Lorraine
, he was raised in Argelès-sur-Mer
with his six younger brothers and one younger sister who all play or played rugby at different high levels. Two are or have been international rugby players: Thomas
(who was also part of France's 1999 Rugby World Cup squad and is now coach of Dax
) and Matthieu
. The only girl of the family, Claire, was a semi-professional, winning a French Championship with Toulouges
in 2005. The two younger twins, Pierre and Luc are also playing for l'Avenir Castanéen
, a Fédérale 2
side (4th Division), as a centre and openside flanker respectively. Finally, François used to play for USA Perpignan
, during the 1990s.
Lièvremont began his rugby career with amateur club Étoile sportive catalane. He then played for Perpignan
, Stade Français (Top 14), in 1998 and 2000, as well as Biarritz Olympique
.
After retiring from rugby, Lièvremont turned to coaching at US Dax
, whom he guided to promotion to the Top 14 in 2007. In a surprise move, French Rugby Federation president Bernard Lapasset
, who is now chairman of the IRB
, appointed Lièvremont as the new head coach of the French national side after the 2007 Rugby World Cup
, replacing Bernard Laporte
. As assistants, former French teammate Émile N'Tamack
was appointed to coach the backs, while Didier Retière was nominated as the new forwards coach.
In 2010 Lièvremont coached France to win the 2010 Six Nations Championship
and Grand Slam beating England 12–10. The following year
, however, pressure began to mount on him after Six Nation losses to England 17–9 and Italy 22–21 – the latter of which was the first time Italy had beaten France, and came after France had led by twelve points with twenty minutes remaining and the next week France beat Wales 28–9.
At the 2011 Rugby World Cup
, he guided France to the final
where they played New Zealand, losing 7 - 8 after a very well played game. Lièvremont branded a section of his squad "spoilt brats" after he discovered some players went out to celebrate the semi-final win against Wales.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer and was the head coach of the French national rugby union team
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
. He played as a back-row forward for France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
, gaining 25 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
from 1995 to 1999, and was selected in France's 1999 Rugby World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
squad. He also played with the French Rugby Sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
team and with the French Barbarians
French Barbarians
The Barbarian Rugby Club, more commonly known as the French Barbarians , are an invitational rugby union team that is based in France. The team is based on the Barbarians and was founded by Jean-Claude Skrela after he played for and adored the Barbarians in the later days of his career...
.
Born in Senegal to a militarian father from Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
and a mother from Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
, he was raised in Argelès-sur-Mer
Argelès-sur-Mer
Argelès-sur-Mer is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.It lies near Perpignan.-Geography:...
with his six younger brothers and one younger sister who all play or played rugby at different high levels. Two are or have been international rugby players: Thomas
Thomas Lièvremont
Thomas Lièvremont is a French rugby union footballer.Thomas Lièvremont was born in Perpignan. He currently coaches Dax in the second division of French rugby, Pro D2, but has agreed to join Top 14 side Bayonne as forwards coach for the 2010–11 season. His usual position was at number-eight...
(who was also part of France's 1999 Rugby World Cup squad and is now coach of Dax
US Dax
Union Sportive Dacquoise, also known as US Dax, is a French rugby union club currently playing in Rugby Pro D2, the second level of the French league system....
) and Matthieu
Matthieu Lièvremont
Matthieu Lièvremont is a French rugby union player, usually playing as a flanker but sometimes as well as number 8...
. The only girl of the family, Claire, was a semi-professional, winning a French Championship with Toulouges
Toulouges
Toulouges is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-History:Toulouges was probably grew upon a Roman villa. It was first mentioned in 904 at the same time mentioning the church called Tulogias...
in 2005. The two younger twins, Pierre and Luc are also playing for l'Avenir Castanéen
Castanet-Tolosan
Castanet-Tolosan is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, a Fédérale 2
Fédérale 2
Fédérale 2 is a rugby union club championship division in France. It is the fourth division of rugby above Fédérale 3. Teams can earn promotion to Fédérale 1, and subsequently, the professional leagues such as Rugby Pro D2 and the Top 14.-Results:...
side (4th Division), as a centre and openside flanker respectively. Finally, François used to play for USA Perpignan
USA Perpignan
Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà , generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French rugby union club that plays in the city of Perpignan in Pyrénées-Orientales. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French...
, during the 1990s.
Lièvremont began his rugby career with amateur club Étoile sportive catalane. He then played for Perpignan
USA Perpignan
Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà , generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French rugby union club that plays in the city of Perpignan in Pyrénées-Orientales. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French...
, Stade Français (Top 14), in 1998 and 2000, as well as Biarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup...
.
After retiring from rugby, Lièvremont turned to coaching at US Dax
US Dax
Union Sportive Dacquoise, also known as US Dax, is a French rugby union club currently playing in Rugby Pro D2, the second level of the French league system....
, whom he guided to promotion to the Top 14 in 2007. In a surprise move, French Rugby Federation president Bernard Lapasset
Bernard Lapasset
Bernard Lapasset MNZM is a French rugby administrator who is currently Chairman of the International Rugby Board . He previously served as President of the French Federation of Rugby Union from 1991 to May 2008, when Pierre Camou, then Vice-President took over...
, who is now chairman of the IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
, appointed Lièvremont as the new head coach of the French national side after the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
, replacing Bernard Laporte
Bernard Laporte
Bernard Laporte is a rugby union coach and former French Secretary of State for Sport. He is currently the head coach at Toulon, having taken over in 2011 from Philippe Saint-André, who had been named the new head coach of the France national team. Laporte himself is a former head coach of France,...
. As assistants, former French teammate Émile N'Tamack
Émile N'Tamack
Émile "Milou" Ntamack is a former rugby union footballer who played professionally for Stade Toulousain and France, winning 46 caps. He made his French debut against Wales during the 1994 Five Nations Championship. Ntamack was part of the Grand Slam winning sides in 1997. In 2003, he stopped his...
was appointed to coach the backs, while Didier Retière was nominated as the new forwards coach.
In 2010 Lièvremont coached France to win the 2010 Six Nations Championship
2010 Six Nations Championship
The 2010 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2010 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 11th series of the Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition between the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams...
and Grand Slam beating England 12–10. The following year
2011 Six Nations Championship
The 2011 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2011 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 12th series of the Six Nations Championship. The annual northern hemisphere rugby union championship was contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy,...
, however, pressure began to mount on him after Six Nation losses to England 17–9 and Italy 22–21 – the latter of which was the first time Italy had beaten France, and came after France had led by twelve points with twenty minutes remaining and the next week France beat Wales 28–9.
At the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
, he guided France to the final
2011 Rugby World Cup Final
The 2011 Rugby World Cup Final was a rugby union match between France and New Zealand, the final match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. It was played on Sunday, 23 October 2011 at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, and was won 8–7 by New Zealand, who thus won the World Cup.The New Zealand All Blacks...
where they played New Zealand, losing 7 - 8 after a very well played game. Lièvremont branded a section of his squad "spoilt brats" after he discovered some players went out to celebrate the semi-final win against Wales.